I'm not "angry". I just think this movement is silly, since anyone could pretend to be part of it.

Wouldn't pretending to be part of it make you part of it?

One of my friends is convinced that there is a 'real' anonymous, and they hide behind masses of posers. He is totally unable to understand my view that anonymous is a collection of random douchebags, including a couple with some real talents and skills.

I'm not "angry". I just think this movement is silly, since anyone could pretend to be part of it.

Wouldn't pretending to be part of it make you part of it?

One of my friends is convinced that there is a 'real' anonymous, and they hide behind masses of posers. He is totally unable to understand my view that anonymous is a collection of random douchebags, including a couple with some real talents and skills.

End result is about the same though.

There is a small array of individuals that represent the whole of Anonymous, that control and guide these public campaigns, that organize and provide the tools for attacks and take-downs. Usually some of the identities repeat between episodes. They hide behind a wall of "neo-homosexuals" that pretend to be Anonymous while blabbing bullshit on 4chan. I guess your friend is right. However, the members of Anonymous do respect the imperatives declared on official propaganda, even when arrested by the police or tried by governments. So yeah, end of result is the same. Also recent scandals had "some" Anonymous members discrediting and detaching themselves from the actions of other Anonymous members (an accusation referred to as "similar-homosexuality" in 4chan vernacular).

It is clear that this action is powered by a small percentage of those that have activated under the Anonymous umbrella.

I'm not "angry". I just think this movement is silly, since anyone could pretend to be part of it.

Wouldn't pretending to be part of it make you part of it?

One of my friends is convinced that there is a 'real' anonymous, and they hide behind masses of posers. He is totally unable to understand my view that anonymous is a collection of random douchebags, including a couple with some real talents and skills.

End result is about the same though.

There is a small array of individuals that represent the whole of Anonymous, that control and guide these public campaigns, that organize and provide the tools for attacks and take-downs. Usually some of the identities repeat between episodes. They hide behind a wall of "neo-homosexuals" that pretend to be Anonymous while blabbing bullshit on 4chan. I guess your friend is right. However, the members of Anonymous do respect the imperatives declared on official propaganda, even when arrested by the police or tried by governments. So yeah, end of result is the same. Also recent scandals had "some" Anonymous members discrediting and detaching themselves from the actions of other Anonymous members (an accusation referred to as "similar-homosexuality" in 4chan vernacular).

It is clear that this action is powered by a small percentage of those that have activated under the Anonymous umbrella.

bullshit.

this is one person - and one person only - stealing the name of Anonymous; who has nothing to do it and never has.

I don't understand why the anonymous don't sign their messages. I'm not talking about a named signature, but about a few GnuPG signatures with no real name.

So at least we could make sure that each new message has be written buy the same people who wrote the previous ones.

So, to clarify, you're angry that anonymous is far too anonymous?

I'm not "angry". I just think this movement is silly, since anyone could pretend to be part of it.

The thing about Anonymous is that it's a lot like Bitcoin; it's decentralised. There are no leaders and there's no "initiation" to become a member, so to speak. Anyone can claim to be a member and anyone can declare war in Anonymous' name. The success of each of their little vendettas depends on how many other "Anons" want to help them.

There is no doubt in my mind that this threat has come from some 15 year old kid who just found out about Bitcoin and thinks he's going to be rich.

Don't know the difference between their, there and they're? I can help! (http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=10562.0)

The thing about Anonymous is that it's a lot like Bitcoin; it's decentralised. There are no leaders and there's no "initiation" to become a member, so to speak. Anyone can claim to be a member and anyone can declare war in Anonymous' name. The success of each of their little vendettas depends on how many other "Anons" want to help them.

Yeah I guess you're right. Maybe the message

"We are anonymous. We are legion. We do not forget. We do not forgive. Expect us."

could be translated into:

"People exist. They are numerous. They don't forget. They don't forgive. Fear them."